Packaging regulations are changing
The EU’s new Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR – EU 2025/40) began to apply on 12 August this year and covers transport packaging and packaging of goods imported into the EU.
PPWR replaces and harmonises parts of the regulatory framework at EU level and will be implemented gradually over the coming years.
The rules include requirements relating to recyclability and packaging reduction, recycled content, restrictions on certain substances and appropriate documentation.
Responsibility primarily lies with the party placing the packaging or packaged goods on the EU market, for example the importer.
What does this mean for a Swedish importer?
Companies importing pre-packaged goods from countries outside the EU must:
Ensure that the packaging complies with the applicable PPWR requirements.
Obtain relevant documentation from the supplier.
Fulfil their Swedish producer responsibility obligations for the packaging.
Producer responsibility is already in place and it means that a company is responsible for the packaging it places on the Swedish market. Among other things, the company must be registered as a packaging producer with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) and report the quantities of packaging, broken down by material type.
What does this mean for your shipments?
As a freight forwarder, we are not responsible for ensuring that our customers’ packaging complies with PPWR or for our customers’ producer responsibility obligations. Our role may include requesting or forwarding relevant information when required. It is the importer or other responsible party that must ensure compliance with the applicable regulations.
In Sweden, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) is responsible for supervision and market surveillance of the regulations.
